Letters, 2/25: Misleading information

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As chairwoman of the Trinity United Methodist Church Board of Trustees, I would like to clarify the information reported in the Feb. 18 Lincoln Journal Star.

First, the $3 million to $5 million reported in the article to repair the church is inaccurate because it is based on an architectural study done two years ago to repair, remodel and restore the building.

More recently, the Board of Trustees separated out the costs needed to repair the building and came up with a figure of $2.2 million. That estimate focuses on high-priority items, accessibility, and some cosmetics and includes the cost of new boilers, which will significantly reduce heating costs.

Some adjustment of water sprinklers and cleaning and repair of gutters and downspouts already has improved the basement water and moisture problems, and a recent inspection of the basement walls has shown no major damage.

Furthermore, the statement that the building has asbestos that needs to be removed is premature, as no asbestos assessment has been done. It has been reported to the trustees that asbestos left undisturbed does not usually pose a problem.

For those of us hoping to preserve this beautiful old building as our church home, the description of our church in the Feb. 18 article was disappointing, to say the least.

If unable to preserve the building as a home for Trinity UMC, many of those who love this “old” church will be working on the Transition Task Force to sell the property to another church body that will appreciate it as the treasure that it is.

Gail Hayes, Lincoln

Into his dotage

I was shocked, saddened and dismayed at the flippant and insensitive use of the racially charged term “‘half-breed” by Lincoln Journal Star biweekly columnist Leon Satterfield. A person with his advantages surely knows better than this.

The only explanation for this outrageous faux pas can be his own, that he has indeed entered his “dotage,” and perhaps it is time for the Journal Star to pick a new columnist to take his place.

Mick Lindgren, Lincoln

All the media have

To quote John R. Lathrop in his letter, “It is little wonder that the correct use of grammar in this country is taking a severe beating. The media has a very powerful influence on what Americans think is right and wrong.”

His use of a questionable metaphor aside (beating the use of grammar), I find it ironic that Lathrop chose to use the very singular verb “has” (instead of have) to modify the very plural noun “media.” Furthermore, stories don’t have “body” (once again, singular), they have bodies.

While I totally agree with Lathrop’s assessment of the recent Journal Star headline, I feel he should have taken the time to review his own work.

Proofread, Mr. Lathrop, or, if necessary, find someone who did pay attention in English class.

Merv Cass, Lincoln

Cut from the same cloth

I moved into Legislative District 28 in 1980 and was amazed to have a state senator show up at my door. The state senator was Chris Beutler, and he came more than once. Beutler not only was committed to meeting constituents on a one-to-one basis, he provided excellent service in the Legislature during his tenure. Thank you, Chris.

Now there is a candidate in the 28th District who has the same commitment to meeting citizens one-on-one, namely Bill Avery. He has just finished walking every precinct in District 28. In my years of involvement with politics in Lincoln and Lancaster County, I have never seen anything like this.

Not only does Avery have a passion for people-to-people grassroots politics, he has a broad understanding of Nebraska public policy. Over the years, serving as a public-minded citizen, Avery has worked with the Legislature on many issues. As an important example, he helped craft Nebraska’s current campaign finance laws. Thank you, Bill.

Bill Avery will be an extraordinary legislator.

Ken Haar, Malcolm

Waste of time, money

I could have saved our brilliant attorney general, Jon Bruning, a lot of his valuable time and us taxpayers a lot of money. When he announced his investigation into gas price gouging, it was pretty obvious it was not the doing of the local suppliers and wholesalers.

It starts at the top with the village idiot, living at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., and trickles down to his greedy oil buddies running the half dozen biggest oil companies that report quarterly profits of $10 billion plus. There’s your gouging.

Bruning should stick to things he’s good at, like tearing apart young families.

Blaine Anderson, Beaver Crossing

Undeserved punishment

I am writing to spotlight, however obliquely, punishment in the penal system and why it doesn’t work very well.

Last winter, in a public place in Lincoln, I witnessed an incident of child abuse. The victim was a remarkably beautiful and seemingly normal little girl of about 5, whose mother or caretaker became increasingly irritated with everything the child did, until finally she grabbed the girl by the arm and “spanked” her.

Before they drove away, I talked to the mother, who immediately told me she was pregnant. She seemed not at all pleased to be. After her spanking, the child had an absolutely sullen and hopeless expression. As I looked at her, I saw that she expected no one to save her from undeserved punishment.

Before I left that place, I did some reality checking with a group of three young adults who also had been witnesses. The woman among them, without hesitation, said to me, “I don’t know why people have children when they’re going to treat them like that.”

Many people who have been demonized by abuse in childhood are among those who, in adulthood, commit crimes, some violent, but also nonviolent and mainly self-destructive.

When undeserved punishment in childhood is at the root of the problem, why do we continue to expect more punishment to solve it?

Nina Williamson, Lincoln